Moore To Ride Mendelssohn At Kentucky Derby 2018

Trainer Aidan O’Brien’s Mendelssohn is one of the favorites to win Kentucky Derby 2018 this year.  Europe’s best hope to end their drought at the Kentucky Derby. On Saturday, Mendelssohn’s backers were able to breathe a sigh of relief when jockey Ryan Moore announced. Moore would ride the horse at the Kentucky Derby.

Moore, who is considered one of the greatest jockeys in the world, has never won the Kentucky Derby before. His only appearance at the Kentucky Derby was a seventh place finish in 2013, while riding Lines of Battle.

Kentucky Derby 2018 Betting Lines

While Moore would have been expected to remain with Mendelssohn any other year, the choice was a little more difficult this year because he has also been the jockey for O’Brien’s other thoroughbred Saxon Warrior, who will run in the Qipco 2000 Guineas, a top race in Europe for 3-year-olds on turf, which takes place on the same day as Kentucky Derby 2018.

Moore is one of the most accomplished jockeys in the world. Moore, a Kentucky Derby is something he would love to have on his resume. With Mendelssohn, a lot of people feel he this will likely be his best opportunity to win the Kentucky Derby.

“I think it was (straightforward) for Ryan. He was always fascinated by the Kentucky Derby and obviously this horse (Mendelssohn) was coming along lovely last year,” O’Brien said.

“He went through the winter well and his first two runs were lovely, so that (Kentucky Derby) is what Ryan is thinking at the moment, obviously things can change but that’s the way he’s thinking at the moment.”

Mendelssohn, who was very impressive in the UAE Derby, has had some success in the United States as well, winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Del Mar. He currently has the third best odds to win the Kentucky Derby.